NEWBORN CHEETAHS
Newborn cheetahs
To spot a newborn baby of a wild animal is a great achievement not just for a nature enthusiast, but even for those who are professionally tied to it, a zoologist, an employee of the nature conservancy or a wildlife photographer. And with rare animals, as you can imagine, the probability decreases exponentially. That is why this photo story is unique. And why it is so gratifying that nature has allowed the photographer of our magazine a glimpse behind the scenes to reveal its secrets to us…* [*editor’s note]
Filming cheetahs in the East African savannah for ten years I have been working with many cats. My special attention has always been directed towards females, as they are the ones who play the essential role in the procreation of this rapidly declining species. The male leaves after a short mating period, leaving its mate to deal with all the hardships of being a single parent of a large family.
After three months of pregnancy a cheetah usually delivers from two to six kittens, marking the beginning of an incredibly difficult times for the mother. Danger awaits her cubs at every corner 24 hours a day. And those following their lives are up for an emotional ride — they are to witness an extremely affective story in which cute scenes of family idyll can be drastically overshadowed by tragic events in a matter of seconds. The sad truth is that more than a third of kittens do not survive the first year of their life. So we - the audience - have no other choice but to learn how to deal with the loss. Today, however, I do not want to dwell on the sad part, as my story is not about the end, but the very beginning of life.
Filming cheetahs in the East African savannah for ten years I have been working with many cats. My special attention has always been directed towards females, as they are the ones who play the essential role in the procreation of this rapidly declining species. The male leaves after a short mating period, leaving its mate to deal with all the hardships of being a single parent of a large family.
After three months of pregnancy a cheetah usually delivers from two to six kittens, marking the beginning of an incredibly difficult times for the mother. Danger awaits her cubs at every corner 24 hours a day. And those following their lives are up for an emotional ride — they are to witness an extremely affective story in which cute scenes of family idyll can be drastically overshadowed by tragic events in a matter of seconds. The sad truth is that more than a third of kittens do not survive the first year of their life. So we - the audience - have no other choice but to learn how to deal with the loss. Today, however, I do not want to dwell on the sad part, as my story is not about the end, but the very beginning of life.
Up to this day my camera has captured cheetah’s life in details — a rush of the fastest land predator mid-hunt, mating games, maternal tenderness or endless playing of kittens all ages. Just one side of its story remained out of the reach of my eye, let alone my camera. I have never seen newborn cheetahs.
I had just returned home after a long shooting season when my ranger friends from the Masai Mara National Park called me: "Alex, we think you need to come back. Rosetta was spotted yesterday, she is pregnant and is about to give birth. This is your chance.”
Rosetta is a wonderful female that at that time no one has seen for a while. If I had met her earlier, I would have certainly stayed and waited, but the situation was as it was. The next day I was already flying back to my beloved Africa.
Two long days of waiting passed from the moment I received that phone call to the point of meeting Rosetta. I couldn't think of anything else. All my thoughts were with the cheetah. Alas, I did not get there in time for the birth, but I was met with a wonderful surprise, or rather five of them! The five kittens Rosetta gave birth to just a day before my arrival. And although I didn't see them being born, there were still five newborn cheetahs lying right in front of me. For a moment I even forgot the reason I came. I was just looking at them and enjoying the moment, too frightened to let it pass…
Rangers cordoned off the place where Rosetta had made her lair. The reserve is always full of tourists whose seemingly harmless actions can be fatal for newborn cheetahs. It is almost impossible to notice tiny cubs in the tall grass, so there is a big chance to crush them with the wheels of a tourist SUV. In addition, extra movement around the cheetahs can catch the unwanted attention of big predators; the main danger for toddlers are lions and hyenas. Finally, the involvement of tourists might somehow distract the mother who needs to constantly be on her watch. If she senses a potential threat close by, she cannot go hunting, and she needs to maintain a healthy diet so that the babies are not left without milk. Therefore, the rangers’ task is to provide a young mother and children with peace and quiet. And I, although not by accident, was among the chosen ones who were allowed to approach the kids for a moment.
Having received clear instructions from the rangers and accompanied by a zoologist from the reserve, I was able to get close to the place where five adorable cubs had been born just yesterday. The whole process took almost a day. Several hours were spent on trying to get Rosetta used to our presence. Only then would she let us safely get to the shooting distance. A few minutes, a couple shots and that's it, it's time to leave. One cannot abuse the hospitality of nature.
For at least two more weeks the mother will carry her blind and helpless kittens from one den to another, so that potential enemies have less chance of discovering them. During the second week the cubs will gain vision, in a month they will be able to follow their mom on their own. Until then, the caring rangers of the national park will always be somewhere near. And even if it is strictly forbidden and almost impossible to interfere with nature’s ways, it is certainly possible and necessary to protect these kittens from poachers and negligent tourists. Because in the 2000 km2 of the protected areas there are only 50-60 cheetahs left…
I had just returned home after a long shooting season when my ranger friends from the Masai Mara National Park called me: "Alex, we think you need to come back. Rosetta was spotted yesterday, she is pregnant and is about to give birth. This is your chance.”
Rosetta is a wonderful female that at that time no one has seen for a while. If I had met her earlier, I would have certainly stayed and waited, but the situation was as it was. The next day I was already flying back to my beloved Africa.
Two long days of waiting passed from the moment I received that phone call to the point of meeting Rosetta. I couldn't think of anything else. All my thoughts were with the cheetah. Alas, I did not get there in time for the birth, but I was met with a wonderful surprise, or rather five of them! The five kittens Rosetta gave birth to just a day before my arrival. And although I didn't see them being born, there were still five newborn cheetahs lying right in front of me. For a moment I even forgot the reason I came. I was just looking at them and enjoying the moment, too frightened to let it pass…
Rangers cordoned off the place where Rosetta had made her lair. The reserve is always full of tourists whose seemingly harmless actions can be fatal for newborn cheetahs. It is almost impossible to notice tiny cubs in the tall grass, so there is a big chance to crush them with the wheels of a tourist SUV. In addition, extra movement around the cheetahs can catch the unwanted attention of big predators; the main danger for toddlers are lions and hyenas. Finally, the involvement of tourists might somehow distract the mother who needs to constantly be on her watch. If she senses a potential threat close by, she cannot go hunting, and she needs to maintain a healthy diet so that the babies are not left without milk. Therefore, the rangers’ task is to provide a young mother and children with peace and quiet. And I, although not by accident, was among the chosen ones who were allowed to approach the kids for a moment.
Having received clear instructions from the rangers and accompanied by a zoologist from the reserve, I was able to get close to the place where five adorable cubs had been born just yesterday. The whole process took almost a day. Several hours were spent on trying to get Rosetta used to our presence. Only then would she let us safely get to the shooting distance. A few minutes, a couple shots and that's it, it's time to leave. One cannot abuse the hospitality of nature.
For at least two more weeks the mother will carry her blind and helpless kittens from one den to another, so that potential enemies have less chance of discovering them. During the second week the cubs will gain vision, in a month they will be able to follow their mom on their own. Until then, the caring rangers of the national park will always be somewhere near. And even if it is strictly forbidden and almost impossible to interfere with nature’s ways, it is certainly possible and necessary to protect these kittens from poachers and negligent tourists. Because in the 2000 km2 of the protected areas there are only 50-60 cheetahs left…